Remote control apparatus for miniature boats



Aug. 26, 1930. R. EDGAR 1,773,973

REMOTE CONTROL APPARATUS FOR MINIATURE BOATS I Filed July 14, 1925 3 Sheets-Sheet l k INVENTOR.

Q Q m Foss/2r Foam 7 k. ATTORNEY Aug 26, 1930. EDGAR 1,773,973

REMOTE CONTROL APPARATUS FOR MINIATURE BOATS Filed July 14, 1925 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 ROBER EDGAR ATTORNEY Aug. 26, 1930.

R, EDGAR REMOTE CONTROL APPARATUS FOR MINIATURE BOATS Filed July 14, 1925' SSheets-Sheet :5

l I INVENTORI BI ROBERT EDGAR ATTORNEY Patented Aug. 26, 1930 nonna'r nnaaa, orLos mourns, canmonma Barron: GONTBQL arraan'rus FOB mrumrunn Boers Application filed July i4, 1925. Serial No. 43,594.

My invention relates generally to miniature land and water vehicles and particularly, although not necessarily, to miniature or toy boats.

Itis a purpose of my invention to provide a miniature boat having incorporated therein an extremelyv simple. practical and inexpensive apparatus which is manually operable from a point remote with respect to the boat to move and control at willthe movements of the boat in such manner that by skillful manipulation of the apparatus from a remote point such as the shore of a body of water a boat can be caused to describe a proscribed course. i

It is also a purpose of my invention to provide a remote control apparatus of the above described character which embodies instrumentaliti'es on the boat such as sails, flags,

Z0 and whistles, and means by which the instrumentalities can be actuated at will by the operators while at a remote point from the boat.

I will describe only two forms of remote control apparatus embodying my invention and will then point out the novel features thereof in claims.

In the accompanying drawings Figure 1 is a view showing in side elevation and partly in section a miniature boat having applied thereto one form of remote control apparatus embodying my invent-ion.

Figure 2 is a fragmentary view showing in side elevation the bow end of the boat shown in Figure 1.

Figure 3 is an enlarged fragmentary perspective'view of one of the masts of the boat shown in Figure and the adjacent pulley.

mechanism.

Figure 4 is a horizontal sectional view taken on the line 4-4 of Figure 1.

Figure 5 is a detail perspectiveview of the reel embodied in the control apparatus.

Figure 6 is a similar view showing the reel.

Figure 7 is a view showing in side elevationmy invention.

staff which constitutes a mounting for the Figures 8 and 9 are views illustrating in plan and diagrammatically a' boat and'its towlines as embodies in my invention showing two methods of towing.

Similar reference characters refer to similar parts in each of the several views.

Referring specifically to the drawings and particularly to Figure 1 my invention in the present embodiment is shown as applied to a miniature boat simulating a steamship a0 and having a hollow 'hull'15 to accommodate parts of the "control apparatus, and a 'pair of masts 16 and 17. The control apparatus com prises a control line consisting of a suitable cord associated with the body to providea o5 bow towline 18, the stern towline 19, and a boat line 20, thelatter being associated with instrumenta-lities on the boat so that they can be actuated by'proper manipulation of the bow and stern towlines. As shown the towlines 18 and 19 are trained about pulleys 21 and 22, respectively, mounted at the bow and stern ends of the hull 15 on supports 23 pivoted in brackets 24 secured to the hull to swing about vertical axes, the supports 23 (5 being formed with hoods 25 to prevent float ing'particles from interfering with rotation of the pulleys. The mounting of the pulleys is such that they are free to swing in a horizontal plane whereby unrestricted'rotation thereof and movement of the line thereover is at all times insured. From the pulleys 21 and 22, the'lines 18 and 19 extend-upwardly and over pulleys 26-and 27,'respectively, from whence they extend rearwa-rdly and forwardly towards the center ofthe hull. That portion of the line between the pulleys 26'and 27 referred to as the boatline is trained about pulley mechanisms arranged fore and aft of the hull for the purpose of actuating the in- 9,0 strumentalities on the boat.

By reference to Figures land 3, it will be clear that the boat line in its extension forwardly from the pulley 27 passes beneath a pulley 28 mounted inja bracket 29 andthen 95 upwardly and around a pulley 30 mounted on the upper end of a lever 31. From the pulley 30, the boat line extends rearwardly and around a pulley 32 mounted in the same bracket 29 but above the pulley 28, from 1 0 whence it extends upwardly alongside of the aft mast 17 and around a pulley 33 rotatably supported on the mast and provided with a hood 34. From the pulley 33 the line extends downwardly and around a pulley 35 mounted in the bracket 29. The pulley mechanism thus far" described constitutes the aft pulley mechanism and is designed to actuate a flag 36 for the mast 17 and bellows v37 for a whistle 38. To actuate a second bellows 39 for the whistle 38 and a second flag 40 for the mast 16 the boat line is extended forwardly from the rear pulley mechanism for operative connection to the, .front pulley mechanism. As shown in Figure 1, the. boat line is extended forwardly from the pulley 35 to a point beneath and above a pulley 41 mounted in a bracket 42. 'From the pulley 41 the line extends upwardly above a pulley 43 on the mast 16 then downwardly beneath a pulley 44 in the bracket 42, rearwardly to a pulley '45 onv the upper end of a'lever 46, around the latter and then forwardly to a pulley 47 in the bracket 42. From the pulley 47 the line extends forwardly to the pulley 26.

From the foregoing description, it will be clear that the two pulley mechanisms are practicallyidentical and consequently the operation in connectionwith the flags and pulleys will be -identical, and as the construction of the bellows, the actuated means therefore, the flags in their supporting means are identical, a description of one will sufiice for both. As shown in Figure 3 the flag 36 issupported' on a pairof arms 48 and 49, the arm 48 being secured to a clamp 50 and the latterin turn embracing the adjacent vertical stretch of the boat line so that the flag and its supporting means are secured to the boat line to-be moved vertically therewith. The arm 49 is provided atits inner end with a loop member 51 through which the boat line loosely extends, the clamp is provided'with an arm terminating in ahook 52 which loosely receives the other vertical stretch of the boat line, thusit-wil'lb'e seen that the members 51 and '52 co-operate in holding the flag in a' fixed vertical position with respect to the bow line andmast so that the flag will at all :times extend lengthwise from the boat so as to be readily viewed'from either side of the boat. V 7

a In the-foregoing mounting of the flag 36, it will be clear that the'flag canbe adjusted vertically with relation to the mast by vertical movement of the boat line, butin practicei t'he -fiag is 'adapte'd 'to occupy the positi'o'n shown in" F igure3 'which is the upper most position or a lowerlp'ositi'on in' which it isn afdjacent'the deck of the 'boati- 'By referonce to Figure 1 it will be clear that tne tla'g 46 is associated" with the bowline' operable in theisam'e'manner asthe-flag 36, and in practice' 'the twoi flags P are adapted to be poised;

and' lowerediitogether.

The bellows 39 is arranged on one end of a pipe 53 having openings 54 which con-- large pipe 55 which functions to direct the sound upwardly through imitation smoke stacks 56. The pipe 55 is provided with a cap 57 at its upper end which serves to prevent water from being discharged into the pipe and, thus interfering with the operation of 'the whistle. Thebellows 37 is normally engaged by rounded head 58 mounted on a yoke 59 (Figure 4) with the latter slidable in guide bars 60.- The yoke 59 is operatively connected to the lever 31 through a link 61 and the lever, is pivoted at its lower end as indicated at 62 to the bottom 'ofthe hull 15. The lever 31 through actuating the boat line is adapted to be moved in the normal position shown in Figure 1 toward the bellows37 thereby imparting a corresponding movement' to the head 58 to compress the bellows and thereby discharge air throughjthe openings 54 to sound the whistle. The bellows 39 is provided with an identical mechanism and the lever 31 thereof is connected to thefir st lever 31 through a spring 63 in such manner that the spring operates to yieldinglyretain the'two levers in the normal position shown in Figure 1. By this arrangement the two levers can be simultaneously'moved'in opposite directions upon actuation of the boat line to move their heads into'compressing relation to the bellows 37'and 39 so that the'latter-cooperates in actuating the-ewhistle as will be understood.

As illustrated in Figures 8 and 9, the bow exert a pullin'g'or slacking action upon the line which is necessary in the control of the boat. "In Flgure 1 I have shown a staff 65 adapted to be held in the hand ofthe operator and; provided with a reduced end 66' upon which the tubular reel 64 is mounted; This staff is of sutlicientlength to permitthe'de sired elevation of the reel and towlinestoavoid any entanglements with obstructions between the boat and the operator.

In'operating the 'instrumentalitie s through I the medium of towhnes let it be assumed that the boat-is afloat-in a body of water'and the operator is atsome remote point preferably on the shore. By the operator now Xerting a'pull on the bow line18 at the same time slacking the stern line-19, theiboat line 20wil1 be pulled in the direction of the bow'line'thus effecting the hoisting of the twoafiags tothe loo 7 elevated pesition shown in Figure 1, Conversely, upon exerting a pull on the stern line and slackened the bow line the flags will be lowered to a position adjacent the deck. a By exerting a minimum pull equally upon the two towlines the flags will be held against movement and in any position within the range of their adjustment. Upon increasing the pull beyond this minimum the resistance offered by the air bellows and the springs will be overcome thereby actuating the levers 31 to move the heads 58 to compress the bellows and thus sound the whistle. On slackening both towlines equally and together the levers can be returned to normal position without lowering the flags, as will be understood.

In the manipulation of the towlines for moving and controlling movement of the boat,

the bow line be at a greater angle with respect to the boat than the stern line as illustrated in Figure 8 then by pulling on both lines as before the boat will travel ahead. Should the posit-ion of the towlines be reversed, it will be clear that by exerting an equal pull on the line that the boat will travel aster-n, If the operator pulls slowly and steadily upon both lines with the pull on the bow line slightly greater than that on the stern line the boats bow will be turned towards the operator. The resistance offered by the pulleys prevent a slightly increased pull from actuating the instrumentalities on the boat. the manner of pulling it will be manifest that the boats stern will be turned in the direction of the operator and without actuating the instrumentalities In all these movements the operator can readily alter the angle of his boat and lines by simply rotating the staff in the direction suitable to the angle required. a

When it is desired to shift the boat and the towlines from their respective positions in towing ahead in any given direction to their vcorresponding positions for towing ahead in the opposite direction, or from their respective positions in towing'astern in any given direction to their corresponding posis tions for towing astern in the opposite direction, the towlines in each instance have to be changed from one side of the boat to the By reversing lines must be passed beneath the hull of the boat and to facilitate such an operation such line is weighted with a small sinker 67 in spaced relation to the boat so that when such Assuming that the boat is beyond the reach of the operator and his staff recourse must be had to either of the two methods, and-the farther the boat is out from the shore the more skill is required in the manipulation of the towlines to change the side of control. It is believed to be obvious from the diagram-v matical illustrations in Figures 8 and 9 as to the manipulation of the towlines in carrying out the two methods referred to.

Referring now to Figure 7, I have here shown a sail boat to which is applied another form of remote control apparatus which is similar to the first apparatus in that a Q0117 trol line is provided to form bow and stern towlines 68 and 69, respectively-, and a boat line 70. The towlines are asseciated with the hull of the boat in a manner identical with that shown and described in connection with the first form of control apparatus, the

boat line 70 is associated with a gib sail 7land a main sail 72 in such manner as to effect upon operation of the boat line a lowering or elevating of the two sails. As shown, the main sail is secured at its bottom edge to a swinging gib 73 the latterbeing formed at its forward end with a ring 74 slidably fed on a mast 75. The rear end of the gib 73 is secured to a staple 76 fixed in the deck of the boat so as to hold the gib :in a fixed horizontal plane at the same time allowing of limited lateral movement thereof to permit the sail to swing to one side or the other of the mast. The main sail 72 at its upper end is secured to the boat line 70 so that by vertical movement of the boat line the sail can be lowered or elevated. The gibsail 71 is con nected at its forward end toafront gib 77 secured to the bow of theboatr The rear end of the gib sail is tied to a staple 78 fixed in the deck, and at its top corner a suspension cord is run up and made fast to another stretch of the boat line 7 Q,

The boat line 70 can be traced as extending rearwardly from the front pulleys 26 to and around a' pulley 79 mounted on the deck of the boat. From the pulley 7 9 the 'boatline extends upwardly and around a pulley 80 mounted on the upper end ofthe mast75, From this pulley the line extends downwardly around a pulley 81 mounted on the lower end of the mast. From the pulley Slthe line xtend up ard y around a Pull y 82 o nt- 51 01 t e ra e nd 9 the mast, a d from leo thence downwardly around a pulley 83 alsov mounted on, the mast. From this pulley 83 the line extends rearwardly to the pulley 27.

From the arrangement as described it will be seen that on pulling the bow line 68 and slacking the stern line 69, the two stretches of the boat line 70 to which the sails 71 and" 7 2 are connected will be pulled downwardly and the two sails thus lowered. Conversely, on pulling the stern line and slacking the bow line, the two stretches ofthe boat line attached to the sails will be moved upwardly thus elevating'the sails. 68'and 69 are adapted to be associated with the reel 64 in the samemanne'r as described in the first form of control apparatus and matic signal on the boat, a pair of bellows for actuating the signal, a pair of heads movable to compress the bellows, a pair of levers operatively connected to the heads and normally urged to a position in which the bellows are expanded, a control line, pulleys on the boat and masts for supporting the control line for movement on the masts and for operatively connecting the line to said levers, the ends of the control line extending from the ends of'the boat, and flags secured to the control line for movement vertically of the masts, the mounting of the control line being such thatbypulling both ends of the control line the signal will be soundedthrough actuation of said heads and by pulling one end or the other of the control line the flags will be lowered or elevated with respect to said masts depending on which end of the line-is pulled 2. A boat halving-a control'line connected thereto to provide bow and stern towlines and a boat line, signals on the boat operatively connected'to the boat line, and means for supporting the-boat line for movement to actuate the signals uponmanipulation of the towlines. w v

3. A boat having'masts, flags capableof being raised or'lowered on the masts, and a control line connected to the boat to provide bow and stern towlines and a boat line operatively connectedto the flags so that by ma nipulation of the towlines the flags can be raised orilowered on the masts. v 1

4. A boat having a control line connected thereto to provide bow and stern'towlines and a boat line, whistles on the boat, bellows The two towlines a course spaced from for sounding the whistles, and elements movable to compress the bellows operatively connected to the boat line so as to be actuated thereby upon predetermined movement of the towlines.

5. A boat having signals thereon, and a control line connected to the boat to provide how and stern towlines by which the boat can be moved and the movements thereof con trolled, and a boat line operatively connected to the signals and associated with the towlines so that the signals can be actuated with-- out controlling the movement of the boat.

6. In combination, a. boat having bow and stern tow lines, a reel about which the lines are reversely trained so that when the reel is rotatedin one direction or the other one line or the other will be wound on the reel and the other line unwound from the reel, and a staff upon which the reel is secured to rotate therewith and by which the lines can be supported inelevated position to permit one to pass the lines over obstacles between the boat and reel in following or controlling the movements of the boat when in water.

7. In combination, a toy or miniature boat having bow and stern tow lines, and a member supporting the tow lines in reversely wound relation and operable to permit-manual manipulation of the lines in elevating the latter and the winding of one line and the simultaneous unwinding of the other.

8. In combination, a boat having a bow and stern tow lines, a member about which the lines are reversely trained so thatwhen the member is rotated in one direction or the other one line or the other will be wound on the member and the other line unwound therefrom, and collars arranged in spaced positions on the member to receive therebetween the reversely trained lines in a manner to preclude winding of the lines upon each other and slipping of the lines oil the member.

"9. A boat having a mast, a-sign'al capable of being raised or lowered on the mast, and a control line movablein relation to the boat and providing a bow tow line, a stern tow line and a boat line, the boat line being operatively"'connected to the signal so thatby manipulation of the tow 'lines the signalcan be raised or lowered on the mast.

' 10. A toy or miniature boat having abowr towing line and a stern'towing line connected to the extreme ends'of, the boat and extend: ing forwardly and obliquely at one side of the boat, so that in towing ahead the bow line is at a greater angle with" respect to the boat than the stern line whereby upon towing the boat the lines from the shore the boat will advance at an angle and thus define the shore. A ROBERT EDGAR. 

